System for generating a force, in particular a driving force

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for generating a force, in particular a driving force comprising: a first unit comprising a first tubular element, first magnetic means, a second unit comprising a second tubular element, where said second tubular element is coaxial with said first tubular element, second magnetic means, third magnetic means. Said first magnetic means are arranged within said first tubular element, and said second magnetic means and said third magnetic means are arranged on said second tubular element so as to be opposed to each other. Said first tubular element is arranged within said second tubular element and is configured to rotate of a predetermined rotation angle in such a way that, when said first tubular element rotates, said first magnetic means rotates with respect to said second magnetic means and said third magnetic means, so that a predetermined first force is generated by said system.

1 . A system for generating a force, in particular a driving force, said system being connectable to a fitness machine and comprising:
 a first unit comprising:
 a first tubular element having a longitudinal axis (L) 
 first magnetic means comprising at least one first magnetic element, 
   a second unit comprising:
 a second tubular element, where said second tubular element is coaxial with said first tubular element, 
 second magnetic means comprising at least one second magnetic element, 
 third magnetic means comprising at least one third magnetic element, 
   where   said at least one first magnetic element is arranged within said first tubular element,   said at least one second magnetic element and said at least one third magnetic element are arranged on said second tubular element so as to be opposed to each other,   said first tubular element is arranged within said second tubular element and is configured to rotate about its longitudinal axis (L) of a predetermined rotation angle (α) in a first direction or in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, in such a way that, when said first tubular element rotates, said at least one first magnetic element rotates with respect to said at least one second magnetic element and said at least one third magnetic element, so that a predetermined first force is generated by said system, the value of said predetermined first force depending on the masses of said at least one first magnetic element, of said at least one second magnetic element and of said at least one third magnetic element, on the polarity of said at least one first magnetic element with respect to the polarity of said at least one second magnet and said at least one third magnetic element and on said predetermined angle of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 said second tubular element comprises an inner surface and an outer surface,   in that   said at least one second magnetic element is arranged on a portion of the outer surface of said second tubular element, and   in that   said at least one third magnetic element is arranged on a further portion of the outer surface of said second tubular element, opposite to said portion.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , characterized in that
 said first tubular element comprises an inner surface and an outer surface   in that   said system comprising a casing having a cavity said cavity comprising a surface,   in that   said first unit and said second unit are arranged within the cavity of said casing,   in that   said second unit being slidably coupled to said first unit so as to slide with respect to said first unit, within said casing, from a first position, in which said second unit is overlapped on said first unit, to a second position, in which said second unit is translated by a predetermined first distance with respect to said first unit and partially overlapped on said first unit, so that a space between the outer surface of the first tubular element and the surface of the cavity of said casing is created, and vice versa; in said first position, the resulting force generated by said system being said predetermined first force, in said second position, a predetermined second force being generated by said system, the value of which depends on the dimensions of the cross-section of said cavity of said casing and on said predetermined first distance, and the resulting force generated by said system being the sum of said predetermined first force and said predetermined second force.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that:
 said at least one first magnetic element comprises:
 a first face and a second face, opposite to said first face, each of which has a respective first portion polarized with a first polarity and a second portion polarized with a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity, 
 a third face, where said third face connects the first portion of said first face to the first portion of the second face and is polarized with said first polarity, and 
 a fourth face, opposite to said third face, where said fourth face connects the second portion of said first face to the second portion of the second face and is polarized with said second polarity, 
 said at least one first magnetic element being arranged within said first tubular element in such a way that a first axis, coincident with said longitudinal axis (L), is perpendicular to said first face and said second face, and that said third face and said fourth face contact said inner surface of said first tubular element, 
 in that 
 said at least one second magnetic element comprises: 
 a first face and a second face, opposite to said first face, each of which has a respective first portion polarized with a first polarity and a respective second portion polarized with a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity, 
 a third face, arranged between said first face and said second face and polarized with said second polarity, 
 said at least one second magnetic element being arranged on said second tubular element in such a way that said third face contacts a portion of said outer surface of said second tubular element 
 in that 
 said at least one third magnetic element comprises: 
 a first face and a second face opposite to said first face, each of which has a respective first portion polarized with a first polarity, and a second portion polarized with a second polarity, opposite to said first polarity, 
 a third face arranged between said first face and said second face and polarized with said first polarity, 
 said at least one third magnetic element being arranged on said second tubular element in such a way that said third face contacts a further portion of said outer surface of said second tubular element, opposite to said portion. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , characterized in that
 said first magnetic means comprise a first plurality of first magnetic elements, said first magnetic elements being in contact with each other and arranged in succession within said first tubular element along said first axis so that the second face of a first magnetic element is in contact with the first face of the first magnetic element arranged in succession,   in that   said second magnetic means comprise a second plurality of second magnetic elements arranged in succession along said portion of said outer surface of said second tubular element so that the second face of a second magnetic element contacts the first face of the second magnetic element arranged in succession and that the third face of each second magnetic element contacts said outer surface of said second tubular element,   in that   said third magnetic means comprise a third plurality of third magnetic elements arranged in succession along said further portion of said outer surface of said second tubular element, so that the second face of each third magnetic element contacts the first face of the third magnetic element arranged in succession and that the third face of each third magnetic element contacts said outer surface of said second element tubular.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said second unit comprises:
 coupling means made of ferromagnetic material for coupling said second magnetic means and said third magnetic elements with said outer surface of said second tubular element; and   blocking means for blocking said coupling means.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5 , characterized in that
 said coupling means comprise a plurality of sheets arranged in succession in such a way that said sheets are overlapped on said second magnetic elements and said third magnetic elements, each sheet having a first hole shaped to allow the passage of said second tubular element, said second magnetic means and said third magnetic means, as well as a second hole and a third hole, and   in that   said blocking means comprise a first blocking element and a second blocking element, said first blocking element and said second blocking element passing through respectively said second hole and said third hole.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said system comprises rotating means for rotating said first tubular element with respect to said second tubular element of said predetermined rotation angle (α). 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said rotation means comprise
 a worm screw,   a gear wheel, geared with said worm screw in such a way that, when said worm screw rotates, said gear wheel rotates,   a shaft, coupled to said geared wheel and said first tubular element in such a way that, when said gear wheel rotates, said shaft rotates causing the rotation of said first element tubular.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said system comprises a container arranged at a first end of said first tubular element, and in that said container has an inlet for the passage of an amount of air from the external environment inside the casing and includes opening/closing means for opening/closing said inlet in order to allow/prevent the passage of said amount of air inside said casing through said inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , characterized in that at least one portion of said worm screw, said gear wheel and said shaft are arranged inside said container and in that said container has a hole to allow the passage of a first end portion of said first tubular element in such a way that said first end portion is connected to said shaft; a first sealing gasket being arranged between said hole and said first end portion of said first tubular element. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 , characterized in that said system comprises a cap arranged at a second end of said first tubular element, opposite to said first end, where said cap is provided with first sliding means for facilitating the sliding of said second unit on said first unit. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said first unit comprises positioning means for positioning said at least one first magnetic element within said first tubular element along said first axis; said positioning means being arranged within said first tubular element. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said positioning means comprise at least one first positioning element arranged in contact with a fifth face of said at least one first magnetic element and with said inner surface of said first tubular element, and at least one second positioning element arranged in contact with a sixth face of said at least one first magnetic element, opposite to said fifth face, and with said inner surface of said first tubular element. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said second unit comprises:
 a first head, arranged at a first end of said second tubular element, where said first head comprises inside a piston having a cross-section in the shape of a circular crown, where said piston is integral with said first head, a second sealing gasket and a third sealing gasket respectively in contact with the inner circumference and the outer circumference of said circular crown, and   a second head, arranged at a second end of said second tubular element, opposite to said first end;   where   said first head and said second head are provided respectively with second sliding means and third sliding means for facilitating the sliding of said second unit on said first unit.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said cavity is provided with at least one first projection, said second unit comprising guiding means to allow said second unit to slide with respect to said casing on said first projection; where said guiding means comprise at least one first guiding element. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said cavity is provided with a second projection, said first projection and said second projection being arranged on the surface of said cavity respectively at a first surface portion and a second surface portion, opposite to said first surface portion, and said guiding means comprise a second guiding element, where said first guiding element and said second guiding element slide respectively on said first projection and on said second projection. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said system comprises a third unit arranged within said cavity of said casing and said third unit being slidably coupled to said second unit in such a way to slide with respect to said first unit, within said casing from a first position, in which said third unit is overlapped on said second unit, to a second position, in which said third unit is translated by a predetermined second distance with respect to said second unit and is partially overlapped on said second unit, and vice versa.